| Congressman Gabe Vasquez is leading the charge to ensure America’s service members are paid during the Republicans’ government shutdown.
Vasquez, alongside Congressman Derek Tran (CA-45), sent a letter to Speaker Johnson calling on him to bring House Republicans back to work in Washington to pass legislation guaranteeing pay for U.S. troops by the October 15 deadline.
As New Mexicans grapple with skyrocketing health care costs, House Republicans are refusing to negotiate a bipartisan deal to keep the government open – putting over 22,000 active duty and reserve personnel in New Mexico at risk of missing paychecks.
D.C. Republicans know they are losing this fight. Just yesterday, a Republican military mom pleaded directly with Speaker Johnson: “I’m begging you to pass this legislation…As a Republican, I’m very disappointed in my party, and I’m very disappointed in you, because you do have the power to call the House back.”
“[Our] troops selflessly serve and defend our country every single day, and they deserve to be paid on time for their work…when it comes to paying our troops, there is no room for partisan politics.” – Rep. Vasquez
Read more on Vasquez’s leadership:
Politico: House Dems prep letter to Johnson urging vote on troop pay bill
- POLITICO obtained a draft of the letter, which was organized by Democratic Reps. Derek Tran of California and Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico…“The threats from our adversaries do not stop because the federal government shuts down,” reads the letter. “We have an obligation to take care of our service members and asking them to stand guard without pay is wrong.”
The Hill: Democrats call on Johnson to bring back House to pay troops
- …Roughly 1.3 million active duty service members — in addition to tens of thousands of deployed or full-time National Guard members and Coast Guard personnel — will miss their next scheduled paycheck should nothing happen.
- “If Congress does not act by October 15th, nearly three million military families will miss their next paycheck,” [Vasquez and Tran] write in the letter, first reported by Punchbowl News. “That’s unacceptable — our military families and troops deserve better.”
Semafor: Waters nudges banks to help federal workers
- Vasquez pointed out that “there’s precedent” for such a vote after lawmakers unanimously passed similar legislation during a long shutdown in 2013.
- “We find ourselves in a similar situation today, and the situation is no different, except that we don’t actually have Republicans in Washington to take such a vote,” Vasquez told Semafor. “This is a common sense thing.”
Source New Mexico: Vasquez leads letter urging vote on pay for military during shutdown
- In a statement, Vasquez said…“I’m calling on Speaker Johnson to do what’s right for our military families and get Republicans back to Washington to vote to pay our servicemen and women…”
- The bipartisan Pay Our Troops Act would ensure services members, along with civilian employees and contractors, receive pay during the shutdown. Vasquez’s letter notes that Congress passed a similar bill during the 2013 shutdown. Doing so… shows “Congress can come together for the benefit of our service members even while disagreeing on other matters.”
KOAT: Rep. Gabe Vasquez leads push to protect military pay as shutdown threatens Oct. 15 checks
- Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico is spearheading a national effort on behalf of Democrats to protect military pay…New Mexico is home to three Air Force bases, including Cannon, Holloman and Kirtland.
- Kirtland Air Force Base has confirmed that all civilian pay, travel vouchers, and budgeting have been canceled while the shutdown looms.
- Vasquez emphasized the importance of protecting service members and their families, telling KOAT….”They shouldn’t be involved in this political fight that’s happening here in Washington.”
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